La Plata County, Colorado facts for kids

Quick facts for kids La Plata County
U.S. county
Strater Hotel, opened in 1888 during a mining boom in Durango.
Location within the U.S. state of Colorado
Colorado's location within the U.S.
Country	United States
State	Colorado
Founded	February 10, 1874
Named for	Spanish for "the silver"
Seat	Durango
Largest city	Durango
Area
• Total	1,700 sq mi (4,000 km2)
• Land	1,692 sq mi (4,380 km2)
• Water	7.6 sq mi (20 km2)  0.4%%
Population  (2020)
• Total	55,638
• Density	33/sq mi (13/km2)
Time zone	UTC−7 (Mountain)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional district	3rd

La Plata County is one of the 64 counties in the U.S. state of Colorado. As of the 2020 census, the population was 55,638. The county seat is Durango. The county was named for the La Plata River and the La Plata Mountains. "La plata" means "the silver" in Spanish.

La Plata County comprises the Durango, CO Micropolitan Statistical Area.

The county is home to Durango Rock Shelters Archeology Site, the type site for the Basketmaker II period of Anasazi culture.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,700 square miles (4,400 km²), of which 1,692 square miles (4,380 km²) is land and 7.6 square miles (20 km²) (0.4%) is water.

Adjacent counties

• San Juan County - north
• Hinsdale County - northeast
• Archuleta County - east
• San Juan County, New Mexico - south
• Montezuma County - west
• Dolores County - northwest

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 43,941 people in the county, organized into 17,342 households and 10,890 families. The population density was 26 people per square mile (10/km²). There were 20,765 housing units at an average density of 12 per square mile (5/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 87.31% White, 5.78% Native American, 0.40% Asian, 0.31% Black or African American, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 3.90% from other races, and 2.25% from two or more races. 10.40% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 17,342 households, out of which 29.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.90% were married couples living together, 8.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.20% were non-families. 24.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.92.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 22.70% under the age of 18, 13.90% from 18 to 24, 29.00% from 25 to 44, 25.10% from 45 to 64, and 9.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 103.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $40,159, and the median income for a family was $50,446. Males had a median income of $32,486 versus $24,666 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,534. 11.70% of the population and 6.70% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 9.30% of those under the age of 18 and 7.70% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

Communities

City

• Durango

Towns

• Bayfield
• Ignacio

Census-designated place

• Southern Ute

Other unincorporated communities

Ghost towns

• Greysill Mines
• La Plata
• Parrott City

Recreation

National forest and wilderness

• San Juan National Forest
• Weminuche Wilderness

National historic district

• Durango-Silverton Narrow-Gauge Railroad National Historic District

Trails

• Colorado Trail
• Old Spanish National Historic Trail

Bicycle route

• Great Parks Bicycle Route

Scenic byway

• San Juan Skyway National Scenic Byway

See also

In Spanish: Condado de La Plata para niños